VampireG’s Blog

Football comes home as Sensible World of Soccer returns to Xbox LIVE Arcade.

“SWOS has currently been pulled from Xbox Live Arcade due to some issues, Apparently it will be available again at 9pm GMT on the 19th December 2007″ 

“Update: Apparently SWOS should be online today 20th December 2007, I am not too sure about this ‘Massive’ advertising engine that is built into it however, apparently takes anonymous information from your console whilst you play the game and the game also has in game marketing and adversts. Surely if there are ads within the game then the game should be cheaper for us to buy”

Codemasters Online have today announced their football game that shaped an entire generation Sensible World of Soccer has been re-released on Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

Sensible World of Soccer brings with it all the classic elements to a new generation of players across Xbox LIVE Arcade for Xbox 360. The game keeps all of the original touches that made it such a genre defining title, as well as introducing all-new optional enhancements to bring the game bang up to date. Sensible World of Soccer introduces players for the first time to all-new online multiplayer modes allowing players globally to take up the challenge and compete in intense online football matches in true Sensible Soccer style. The game also includes both original & updated custom graphics modes from the original designer of SWOS allowing players to experience the game in all-new High Definition.
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Ok maybe I am a little slow in finding this game, and yes maybe everyone on this planet already has played it or is playing it.

But I have to say I have found one of the most fun car games I have ever and to make it even more appealing it is FREE!

TrackMania Nations can be downloaded for nothing from here and basically you have a car game with about 100 tracks in it and also an editor to create and make your own. Making your own tracks is a great laugh, at lunch times at work there is currently a group of us that play this trying out each others tracks. You can also put your tracks on an exchange site for other people to download, my first two efforts can be found here and here.

If you don’t have this game, I really can recommend downloading it, you will soon become addicted to it. I have also now purchased TrackMania United which contains even more tracks, different cars and different environments.

Yep that is right everyone Christmas is nearly here at last, although most shops in the UK had already started the whole Christmas build up from about September so I am pretty bored of the commercial bollocks at the moment.

Also spent too much already I think on presents and such, but hey who doesn’t!

However Christmas is going to be amazing this year, first one that my wife and I will have with our daughter, she has no idea on what the hell is going on as she is only 8 months old, but still it gives us an excuse to be extra stupid

Happy Christmas one and all, hope everyone has a wonderful time no matter your colour, creed or religious view point it is a time of the year to be merry.

GripShift®, the award winning racing platformer developed and published by Sidhe Interactive is now available for download on Xbox LIVE® Arcade (XBLA), the premier destination for digitally distributed, high-definition original and classic games.

Featuring an extensive single-player experience, two multiplayer modes, stunning visuals and amazing sound, GripShift is available for 800 Microsoft points under the Games tab on the XBLA Dashboard.

“Bringing GripShift to the Xbox LIVE Arcade gives a whole new audience the chance to experience some frantic racing fun,” said Mario Wynands, Managing Director of Sidhe Interactive. “We think 360 owners will get a lot for their money with this game, as it offers a ton of content which can be played repeatedly for those who are intent on topping the leaderboards.”

Sidhe has also made available a list of Xbox LIVE achievements along with two new trailers from GripShift, showing fly-throughs of two intense Challenge courses.

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Welcome to Paradise! EA today released a fully explorable slice of the award-winning racing game, Burnout Paradise.

Available now at the PLAYSTATION®STORE and XBOX LIVE™ MARKETPLACE, the downloadable demo will allow players to experience a piece of Paradise City before the game hits retail stores in the UK on January 25, 2008.

Discover jumps, billboards and smashable targets all over Motor City, Big Surf Beach and Ocean View in search of the fastest Burnout Route in the Hunter Cavalry car. Also, attempt your shot at a race and check out the all-new Stunt Run mode. If you’re online, invite up to three friends into your game and connect with them instantly using the EasyDrive online system. Once online, players can work cooperatively to complete three FreeBurn challenges or simply smash each other up and grab their Burnout Mugshots with the PLAYSTATION®Eye and Xbox LIVE™ Vision cameras.

The development team at Criterion pushes the boundaries to make each Burnout game stands on its own – reinventing the franchise with every iteration. The Paradise experience is all about freedom and exploration. The game has been designed to embrace speed, freedom, social online play and spectacular crashing, but now with all new modes, a completely open world and events at every intersection.

So make action your middle name and take to the streets of Paradise City.

Microsoft® today affirmed its place as global leader in downloadable high-definition gaming and entertainment content, as its Xbox LIVE®™ Marketplace Video Store service launched in five new countries - Canada, France, Germany, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Following a highly successful launch in the United States last year, all Xbox 360™ owners connected to the internet in the above countries can now download to rent both high definition and standard definition movies direct to their console using Xbox LIVE Marketplace Video Store.

Following last week’s launch announcement where Microsoft revealed partnerships with Warner Bros and Europacorp in Europe to bring exciting films to rent on Xbox LIVE including 300, Zodiac, Harry Potter and The Good German, Xbox 360 owners can also expect to download to rent additional Warner Bros films such as Batman Forever, Batman Returns, Analyze That[1], by the end of the year. Cost per download for a catalogue film is from as little as 250 Microsoft Points (*ERP £2) for Standard Definition movies and from 380 Microsoft Points (*ERP £3.20) for High Definition movies.

Additional Films coming to Xbox LIVE Marketplace Video Store UK before 7th Jan 2008:
TMNT
WE ARE MARSHALL
BATMAN & ROBIN
BATMAN FOREVER
BATMAN RETURNS
WILD WILD WEST
US MARSHALS
DEEP BLUE SEA
SPHERE
UNFORGIVEN
MAVERICK
CONTACT
CONSPIRACY THEORY
OUTBREAK
LAST BOY SCOUT
MISS CONGENIALITY
ANALYZE THAT

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Found some cool GTA IV images on the press release site I use hence the “GP” stamp on them, as I am far to tight to pay for their premium service to get rid of watermarks just to upload images to a hobby site!

The images show a little more of the game also, more boats etc.

Anyways thought I would share them with you, you may have already seen them, but hey! This game is really starting to make me feel  like it is a must buy when it finally comes out.

Image below!

• GTA IV Image 1
• GTA IV Image 2
• GTA IV Image 3
• GTA IV Image 4
• GTA IV Image 5
• GTA IV Image 6

Prepare for an action-packed dungeon crawl with Sierra Online’s “Arkadian Warriors” and experience the innovative cross genre gameplay of “GripShift®,” by Sidhe Interactive, this week on Xbox LIVE® Arcade for Xbox 360™. Both games launch on Wednesday, 12th December, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. GMT.

Three heroic shape-shifting warriors fight to release the Land of Arkadia from the evil Gorgon’s stony gaze. In the uniquely expansive “Arkadian Warriors,” randomly generated dungeons and cooperative multiplayer hack & slash action enhances a deep single-player campaign. The robust cooperative multiplayer mode is available for two players both locally and over Xbox LIVE. Upgrading is key as players hone their skills, acquire loot and master powerful magic spells and numerous deadly weapons in a journey of mythical proportions.

Through a mix of sky-high platforming and stunt driving, “GripShift” combines automotive and puzzle solving skills across 120 challenging levels, 25 rubber burning race tracks and 20 deadly deathmatch arenas across four themed worlds. Zoom to victory with four players over Xbox LIVE or race solo, all while enjoying a customisable music experience! Choose your driver, unlock faster vehicles and customise your ride with new skins. Developed by Sidhe Interactive, “GripShift” is a gravity-defying thrill ride every racing fan must experience!

Where can I get “Arkadian Warriors” and “GripShift “ from?

Arkadian Warriors: available for 800 MS Points from 9:00 a.m. GMT, Wednesday 10th December 2007

GripShift: available for 800 MS Points from 9:00 a.m. GMT, Wednesday 10th December 2007

They are rated 12+.

 PS: Don’t forget that today you should now be able to download movies to your XBox as the Video Marketplace should be switched on today! I will confirm this when I get a chance.

Ok as usual reading the BBC news site and I found an interesting story about a report that has recently been compiled by a company called Demos. The report looks into the way the government is looking after our data. (You know whats coming right…..?)

The report concluded the following:

“The government needs to ensure greater protection for people’s personal information, a think-tank has said.”

I mean holy fricking shit Sherlock, has the government not just lost half of the countries personal data on a couple of CD’s? I mean does it really take a “Think Tank” to come up with that finding? What is this country coming to, why not find solutions to real problems and stop stating the fricking obvious!

I am now officially excited about this game after seeing the latest trailer!

If they keep the free roaming and the game looks and plays as good as the trailer it is going to be amazing.

Shame we have to wait until April next year for it. I know the debate will begin soon on whether to buy it on PS3 or Xbox 360?